Releasing end stop slide fastener



Aug, 7, l945'. w. MIKULAs RELEA'SINGl END s'roP SLIDE FASTENER Filed Sept. 30, 1943 mam-@EE mam-NE?. v Y

. IN V lEN TUR.

Wi Zliam Mk'ulas Y mi FFF-E E il A Patentedl Aug. 7, 1945 RELEASIN G END STOP SLIDE FASTENER William Mamas, West Brighten, staten Island,

N. Y., assignor to Conmar Products Corpora= y tion, Newark, N.V J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 30, 1943, Serial No. 504,414

- 8 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to slide'fastenefrs and more particularly ,to v.separable slide fastenersY l embodying a releasing end stop.4

In separable slide fasteners provided with a releasing end stop, one of the pair of stringers that make up the slide fastener, which stringers are made fully separable at-'one end such as the bottom end, is provided with a so-called releasing endstopat the other s uch as the top end,

which functions as a normal lstop for the slider and as a releasing stop when a greater than normal force is exerted on the slider to force the same past such stop.

In operation, the slider when drawn with normal force to complete the closing of the slide fastener stringers engages and is stopped by the releasingend stop. For the-purpose of making it possible to quickly open the slide fastener (i. e., without having to draw the slider back to the separable ends of the fastener), a greater than normal force exerted on the slider in the fastener closing' direction causes the slider to move past and thereby become released by the releasing end stop and its stringer, whereupon the stringers are free to be separated by a stripping action. To retain the slider on the slide fastener, the slide fastener elements on the other Stringer are made to extend beyond theposition of the releasing end stop and a permanent end stop is provided at the end of such slide fastener element extension. When the slider is released from the releasingl end stop vand its stringer, it is held or retained on the extension end of this other Stringer.

The releasing end stop has to serve eiilciently its dual function of vacting as a stop during normal use and as a releasing means during abnormal use. The releasing action is intended to be brought into play in case of an emergency, as

when the slider cannot be moved normally in slide fastener opening direction (for example, when movement thereof is obstructed or jammed) or as when confronted by a dire emergency, time forbids such normal opening use. The releasing end stop must, therefore, be constructed'so that it is thoroughly reliable in its dual acting lqnirements to an optimum degree.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such` other objects as may hereinafter appear, my present invention relates to slide fasteners embodying the improved releasing end stop as sought to be deiined'in the appended claims and as 'described in the accompanying specication taken together with the drawing illustrating the same, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a slide vfastener constructed to embody the principles of the present invention and illustrating the normal stop action of the releasing end stop thereof;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the upper end of a slide fastener and illustrating the releasing action of the releasing end stop;

Fig. 3 is a view taken in cross-section in the planes of the lines 3--3 of Fig. 2 and showing the construction on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the releasing end stop itself separated from the Stringer tape to which it is normally constructionally attached.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, the slide fastener, of the fully separable type,

vcomprises the usual pair of stringers S and S consisting of the beaded tapes t and t', the tape t being provided with the slide fastener series f and the tape t' being provided with the Vmating slide fastenerseries f', each slide fastener series consisting of a plurality of spaced slide fastener elements clamped to the beaded edge of the tape. 'I'he slide fastener is openable and closable in the usual way by the action of a slider vsuch as the conventional slider IiI-Which, when moved downwardly by the slider pull I2, opens the stringers of the slide fastener by causing `the unlocking of the slide fastener elements, and which, when moved upwardly by the slider pull I2, closes the `stringers of the slide fastener by causing the interlocking engagement of the fastener elements f and f'. The slide fastener is of the fully separable type and, therefore, includes the retaining member or socket I4 at one end such as the bottom end of the slide fastener permanently fixed to a pin I6 clamped -about the lower lend of the beaded edge of the tape t, and a movable pin I8 clamped about the lower lend of the beaded edge of the tape t', the said pin I8 being removably receivable by the socket' I4. l As is well known, when the slider I0 is at its lowermost position o'n the slide fastener and in engagement with the top of the socket I4, the pin I8 may be threaded out of or into the slider I0 when separation and assembly of the slide fastener stringers are respectively desired. l

The releasing end stop of my present invention, generally designated as 20, is located at the opposite or closed end of the slide fastener and is designed to act normally as an end stop for the slider as depicted in Fig. 1 oi the drawing, and under other than normal conditions, as a, means forrreleasing the slider and permittingv a quick stripping separation of the stringers as is depicted in Fig. 2 of the drawing. For retaining the slider on the slide fastener when and after r the slider is'released from the Stringer which carries the releasabie end stop, the slide fas- -secured or fastened to the tape of the drawing.

The releasing end stop 20 comprises a pair of supporting elements 24 and 28 fastened tol the opposite sides of the tape t' of the stringer S at the closing end thereof and a releasing spring generally designated as28 anchored at its opposite ends 38 and 32 to said oppositely disposed supporting elements 24 and 26 respectively, the said spring 28 being provided with an intermediate portion 34 which extends transversely through the supporting elements 24 and 26 and the tape t in a position to engage the top inclined wall 36 o f the slider at both sides of the tape, thus forming a normal end stop for the slider. stop for the slider and as the releasing means when a greater than normal force is exerted on the slider i to thereof past the said intermediate and engaging portion 34 of the spring.

The supporting elements 24 and 26 are preferably made from a single piece of sheet material bent to form a U-shaped member as most clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, the same 'being formed to provide a socket edge 38 folded about and enclosing the beaded edge 48 of the tape t' and two wing elements which form the plate shaped supporting elements 24 and 28 referred to, which overlie and engage the opposite sides of the tape. -This U-shaped member is being shown in the exdepicted in the one or more rivets, two empliflcation of the invention g drawing, the said rivets 42 and 44 serving to fasten the supporting elements 24 and 28 together and to fasten this member to the opposite sides of the Stringer tape t'. 'It will be noted that this U-shaped member is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal plane of the tape.

The stop and releasing spring 28 comprises a spring element bent to the shape and configuration -best depicted in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, the ends or termini 38 and 32 ofwhich, anchored as aforesaid to the'supporting elements 24 and v 28, are secured in position by the heads of the rivet 42 as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and the intermediate or medial portion 34 of which extends transversely through registering slots 48 and 48 formed in the plates 24 and 28 and through a registering opening 58 formed in the tape. The spring 28 also, therefore, forms a unit or element which is symmetrical with respect tothe longitudinal plane of the tape t. The region of the spring on each lside of the tape located between the anchoring end and the in termediate or medial'portion of the spring 1s looped about and retained within the extending head of the rivet 44 (on each side of the unit).

By means of this described construction, the following important functions and advantages are obtained. The stop and releasing spring 28 is symmetrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal plane of the tape'and, therefore, the wear of the spring on the slider I8 and particularly the top inclined wall 38 of the slider is distributed on both sides or halves of the slider. The spring 28 comprisingas it does a section on force the top inclined wall 38 1 t by means ot This spring 28 functions as the normal each side ofthe tape, which sections are connected together by means of the transverse portion 34, is positioned on both sides of the slide fastener thus inhibiting the possibility or danger of being picked or forced away from the wings or plates 24 and 28 of the support by the action or movement of the slider. The vintermediate or medial portion 34 of this spring provides a line contact and, therefore, an extended contact with the slider top causing less wear to any given point of the slider. The -releasing force exerted by the slider on the spring and the reactive force are symmetrical with respect to the medial plane of the slide fastener and, therefore, the releasing action is a. uniform one, free of any torsional strains orjerks. The arrangement of the spring as shown provides for a large effective spring length and, therefore, permits the use of a relatively strong spring (as is desired for the stopping action) and one having a high degree of resiliency (as is desired for the releasing action). Also the springv is bent outwardlyin such a waythat it .bears efficiently against the upper ends of both halves of the slider. As a result, the releasing end stop of the present invention is thoroughly reliable in its dual acting capacity, serving efliciently-as an end stop and as a releasing means.

For strengthening the anchorage of the U- shaped supporting member on the tape t', this member may be notched as at 82 to provide space 'to surround the last element 54 of the element series f', this corresponding to the interconnection between the permanent end stop 22 and the vbe fully-apparent from the above detailed description thereof. The slide fastener is of the fully separable type and the stringers thereof may be separated in the usual way by drawing the slider I8 downwardly to its bottommost position and by then withdrawing or threading the pin `I8 of the stringer S' through and from the slider I0. For closing the slide fastener, the slider I0 is moved to the position shown in Fig. l of the drawing, at which point the slider, and particularly the top walls 36 of the two slider halves, is engaged and stopped by the intermediate transverse portion of theI spring 28. When a greater than normal force is exerted on the slider in the fastener closing direction, a camming action between the ,walls 36 of the slider and the intermediate portion 34 of the spring takes place, and the slider is forcibly moved past and thereby becomes released from the stop spring 34 and, consequently, from the Stringer S. The stringers S and S' are, therefore, free to be separated by a stripping action as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. To assemble the parts together again, the slider Ill, retained by the Stringer S in the manner shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, is returned to its bottommost position ready for the threadingv reception of the pin I8 of the Stringer S.

I claim:

1. In a slide fastener, in combination with a pair of stringer tapes having interlockable slide site' sides of one of the Stringer -tapes at ther-slide fastener end thereof, said elements being provided ywith registering apertures, and a releasing 'apertures and tape in a position to engage the spring anchoredat its opposite ends to said op- ,v positely disposed supporting elements and pro` 2. In aslide fastener, in combination with a' pair of Stringer tapes having interlockable slide fastener elements and a slider movable therealong, of a slider releasing end stop comprising a pair of supporting elements-fastened -to each other and to opposite sides of one of the stringer tapes at the'slide fastener end thereof, said ele- I 'ments vbeing provided with registering apertures,

and a releasing spring anchored at its opposite en'ds to said oppositely disposed supporting elements and provided with an intermediate portion which extends transversely through the aperturesl of said elements and the tape in a'position to engage the top oi the slider at bothsldes of the tape to form the end stop therefor, said spring functioning as a normal stop for the slider andv as a releasing stop movable in said apertures when a greater thannormal force is exerted on! the slider to force the samel in a'direction longitudinally of said slide fastener past the said intermediate and engaging portion of the spring. 3.A In a slide fastener, in combination with a pair of stringer tapes having interlockable slide fastener elements and a slider movable therealong, of a slider releasing end stop comprising a pair of supporting plates fastened to opposite sides of one of the Stringer-tapes at the slide fastener end thereof, the said plates being provided With registering slots, and a releasing spring anchored at its opposite ends tosaid oppositely disposed supporting elements and provided with an intermediate portion which extends trans-v versely through said slots and through the tape i in a position to engage the top of the slider at both sides of the tape to form the end stop therethe slider and as a releasing stop movable across said slots whena greaterl than normal force is exerted on the slider to force the same in a direction longitudinally of said slide fastener past the said intermediate and engaging `portion .of the` spring.

. for, said spring functioning as a normal stop for top of the slider at both sides of the tape to form the end stop therefor, said spring functioning as a normal stop for the slider and as a releasing stop movable in said apertures when a greater than normal force is exerted on .th'e slider to force the same in a, direction longitudinally of said slide fastener past the said intermediate and engaging portion of the spring i 5. In'a slide fastener, in combination with a pair of stringer tapes having interlockable slidel fastener elements and a slider movable therealong, of a sliderreleasing end stop comprising a U-shaped member folded about lthe beaded edge;

and forming a pair of supporting plates arranged on opposite sides, of one of the Stringer vtapes at the slide. fastener end thereof, said plates being fastened together and to thel tape byy a rivet,

saidplates being providedwith' registering slots, fand a releasing ispring anchored at its opposite .ends to said rivet and provided Withan intermediate portion which extends transversely through said slots and through the tape in a posi-A tion toengage the top of the slider at both-sides of the tape to form the endstop therefor, said spring functioning as a normal stop for the-slider andas a releasing stop movable in said apertures when a greater than normal force is exerted on the slider to force the same in a direction longitudinally of said slide fastener pastl the said intermediate and engaging portion of the spring.

6. In a slide fastener, in .combination with a pair of stringer tapes having interlockable slide -fastener elements and a slider movable therealong, of a slider releasing end stop comprising a U-shaped member folded about the beaded edge, and forming a pair of supporting plates arranged on opposite sides, of one of the stringer tapes at the slide fastener end thereof, said plates being fastened together and to: the tape by two spaced rivets, said plates being provided with registering slots, .and a' releasing spring anchored at its opposite ends to one of said rivets and provided with an interr'nediate portion which extends ltransversely' through said slots and through the` tape in a, position to engage the top of the slider atboth sides of vthe tape toform the end stop therefor, said spring being looped about the other of said rivets in regions between the anchoring ends and intermediate portion th'ereoi', said spring functioning as a normal stop for the slider and as a releasing stop movable in said apertures when a greater than normal force is exertedvon the slider to force the same in a direction longitudinally of said slide fastener past the said intermediate and engaging portion of the spring.

4. me 'ende fastener, in eombinetion wane pair of stringer tapes having -interlockable slide fastener-elements and a slider movable therealong, of a slider releasing end stop comprising a U-shaped'member folded about the beaded edge, and forming a pair of supporting elements 'arrangedfcn opposite sides, of one ofthe stringer t vtapes at the slide fastener end thereof, said member being fastened to thetape thereat, saidelementsfbeing provided with registering apertures, and a releasing spring anchored at its opposite ends to said oppositely disposed supporting 'elements and provided with' an intermediate portion' which' extends transversely through the said 7. The slide fastener combination of-claixn 1 in which the releasing end stop is on one of the stringer tapes as defined, in which th'e slide fastener elements on the other of the stringers extend beyond the releasing end stop, and in which there is a permanent end stop at the end of such slide fastener element extension.

8. 'I'he slide fastener combination of claim 4 in which the releasing end stop'is on one` of the Stringer tapes' as defined, in which the slide fastener elements on the other of the stringere extend beyond the releasing end stop, and in which there is a permanentr end stop at the end of such' slide fastener element extension.

W'IIIIAM MIKULAS. 

